Beverage dispenser

ABSTRACT

A beverage dispenser may include a container defining a container volume, and a substantially spill-proof cap coupled to the container so as to indicate if the cap has been uncoupled from the container. The cap may also define at least one dispensing aperture in communication with the container volume and with ambient air.

BACKGROUND

[0001] 1. Field

[0002] The claimed invention relates generally to beverage dispensers. More particularly, the claimed invention relates to substantially spill-proof beverage dispensers.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] Beverages may be contained by and dispensed from many different types of containers. These include aluminum cans, drink boxes, glass bottles and plastic bottles. Beverage dispensers using the latter two container types may also utilize one or more types of caps, including a screw-on cap, a crimp-on bottle cap, a snap-on cap, and a plunger-based “sport” cap. Moreover, each cap may be constructed from a material that is suitable for its target market and/or expected use.

[0005] Some beverage dispensers utilize special caps that are designed to substantially retain beverages inside the dispensers until suction is applied to the cap. These dispensers are often given to children, as they are less likely to spill their contents if accidentally squeezed, dropped or otherwise tilted. Several patents have been directed to the design of such dispensers.

[0006] Current spill-proof beverage dispensers can be expensive to manufacture, difficult for adults to configure, difficult for children to operate, limited in their uses, or otherwise unsatisfactory. A new substantially spill-proof beverage dispenser is therefore desired.

SUMMARY

[0007] Some embodiments of the claimed invention may address the foregoing by providing a beverage dispenser including a container defining a container volume, and a substantially spill-proof cap coupled to the container so as to indicate if the cap portion has been uncoupled from the container. The cap may also define at least one dispensing aperture in communication with the container volume and with ambient air.

[0008] In other aspects, provided may be a beverage dispenser that includes a cap defining at least one dispensing aperture, and a seal to seal the at least one dispensing aperture from ambient air. According to this aspect, the dispensing aperture is substantially spill-proof upon removal of the seal from the at least one dispensing aperture.

[0009] In still other aspects, a beverage dispenser may include a cap defining at least one substantially spill-proof dispensing aperture, the cap being a single, integrally-formed piece, and a coupling coupled to the cap, the coupling comprising an interior surface having first threads disposed thereon, the first threads to interface with second threads disposed on an exterior of a container to seal the cap to the container.

[0010] The claimed invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, however, as those of ordinary skill in the art can readily adapt the teachings herein to create other embodiments and applications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Embodiments of the claimed invention will become readily apparent from consideration of the following specification as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like parts, and wherein:

[0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a beverage dispenser according to some embodiments;

[0013]FIGS. 2a and 2 b are top plan views of a beverage dispenser according to some embodiments;

[0014]FIG. 3a is a side elevational view of a beverage dispenser according to some embodiments;

[0015]FIG. 3b is a front elevational view of a beverage dispenser according to some embodiments;

[0016]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a beverage dispenser according to some embodiments;

[0017]FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a beverage dispenser according to some embodiments;

[0018]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a beverage dispenser according to some embodiments;

[0019]FIG. 7a is a side elevational view of a beverage dispenser according to some embodiments;

[0020]FIG. 7b is a front elevational view of a beverage dispenser according to some embodiments;

[0021]FIGS. 8a and 8 b are top plan views of a beverage dispenser according to some embodiments; and

[0022]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a beverage dispenser according to some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] The following description is provided to enable any person of ordinary skill in the art to make and use embodiments of the claimed invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventors for carrying out the claimed invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those in the art.

[0024]FIG. 1 illustrates beverage dispenser 1 according to some embodiments. Beverage dispenser 1 includes container 10. Container 10 may be composed of any suitable material, including but not limited to plastic, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Container 10 may comprise any shape, size and configuration. Container 10 defines container volume 11, in which beverage 12 is contained. Beverage 12 may comprise any liquid intended for consumption. According to some embodiments, beverage 12 comprises a liquid intended for consumption by young children, such as water-diluted fruit juice or fruit-flavored water. Some embodiments may not include beverage 12.

[0025] Beverage dispenser 1 also includes cap 20. Cap 20 may comprise a single, integrally-formed piece and/or may also be composed of one or more suitable materials. In some embodiments, the materials used in beverage dispenser 1 are selected to be easily disposable. Easily disposable materials include materials possessing one or more features such as low cost and recyclability. Accordingly, some embodiments of beverage dispenser 1 are portable, disposable and contain a single serving of flavored water intended for children.

[0026] Cap 20 includes suction portion 21 for mating with a mouth during use. Seal 22 is affixed to suction portion 21 to seal dispensing apertures (not shown) defined thereby. Seal 22 may comprise a strip of foil that is heat-sealed to cap 20. Seal 22 may be affixed to cap portion using any suitable adhesive. According to some embodiments, seal 22 prevents the flow of contaminants from ambient air to container volume 11. In this regard, the aforementioned dispensing apertures may be in communication with container volume 11.

[0027] Cap 20 of FIG. 1 includes lip 23 for holding an overcap (not shown). An overcap may prevent contaminants such as dust and the like from collecting on suction portion 21 during transport and/or storage of beverage dispenser 1.

[0028] Cap 20 may be coupled to container 10 by any currently- or hereafter-known coupling system. For example, an interior surface of cap 20 may include a trough into which an upper rim of container 10 may be snapped. Cap 20 may be screwed on to container 10. In one such arrangement, cap 20 is coupled to a coupling having threads on its interior surface, and such threads may interface with threads located on an exterior surface of the neck of container 10. Alternatively, cap 20 and container 10 may consist of a single integrally-formed piece.

[0029] Coupling 30 of FIG. 1 is coupled to cap 20 and to container 10. Coupling 30 may serve to fix cap 20 to container 10 and/or may indicate if cap 20 has been uncoupled from container 10. According to some examples, coupling 30 breaks along breakaway area 32 in a case that cap 20 is uncoupled from container 10. More specifically, coupling 30 may break along breakaway area 32 in a case that cap 20 is turned through a particular arc relative to container 10. The particular arc is based on the design of beverage dispenser 1. Coupling 30 may thereby indicate whether beverage 12 has been tampered with after being sealed in dispenser 1 by a manufacturer. Other couplings having similar functions may also or alternatively be coupled to cap 20 and container 10. Seal 22 may also provide an indication of whether seal 22 was previously removed using current or future tamper resistance systems.

[0030] Cap 20 of FIG. 1 may be substantially spill-proof. In some embodiments, beverage 12 substantially remains within beverage dispenser 1 in a case that seal 22 is removed, beverage 12 flows against an opening of the dispensing apertures, and suction is not applied to the dispensing apertures. Such a situation may occur if beverage dispenser is knocked over from an upright position.

[0031] Moreover, container portion 10 may be adapted to substantially maintain its shape in response to inward pressure caused by a child's grip. This feature may prevent beverage 12 from flowing out of the dispensing apertures when pressure is applied to container 10 by a child and suction is not applied to the dispensing apertures. In this regard, a shape of suction portion 20 may conform to a child's mouth.

[0032]FIG. 2A is a top plan view of cap 20 of FIG. 1. Cap 20 may also be considered a beverage dispenser in that it may be used to dispense beverages. Shown in FIG. 2 are suction portion 21, seal 22, and lip 23 according to some embodiments.

[0033] Suction portion 21 includes upper surface 24 and exterior recess 25. As shown, upper surface 24 defines a boundary of exterior recess 25. A thin portion of seal 22 is disposed within exterior recess 25 and rests on upper surface 24. Seal 22 terminates in a larger portion that may be designed to be easily gripped. The location of seal 22 within exterior recess 25 may assist in securing seal 22 to cap 20 and may assist manufacturing of cap 20.

[0034] As described above, seal 22 may seal one or more dispensing apertures from ambient air. FIG. 2B is a top plan view of cap 20 with seal 22 removed. Dispensing apertures 26 are defined by suction portion 24 and are in communication with exterior recess 25.

[0035]FIG. 3A is a side elevational view of cap 20 according to some embodiments. A portion of seal 22 that rests on upper surface 24 is visible, as is rim 27. Rim 27 may or may not include a coupling for coupling cap 20 to a container. In some embodiments, an interior surface of rim 27 includes threads designed to interface with threads located on an exterior surface of a container's neck.

[0036]FIG. 3B is a front elevational view of cap 20. For the sake of completeness, FIG. 3B shows suction portion 21, seal 22, and rim 27.

[0037] A cross-sectional view of cap 20 is provided in FIG. 4. The view comprises a cross section taken along line A of FIG. 2A and viewed in the direction of the illustrated arrows. FIG. 4 shows the above-described elements of cap 20, as well as threads 28. Threads 28 are located on an inner surface of rim 27 and are designed to interface with threads located on an exterior surface of a container's neck. In this regard, rim 27 may be considered a coupling between cap 20 and the container.

[0038] A container usable in conjunction with cap 20 may include a ring around its neck. Interior lip 29 of cap 20 may assist in securing cap 20 to such a container. In one example, angled surfaces of lip 29 press against upper surfaces of the ring as cap 20 is pressed onto the container's neck. Lip 29 flexes outward slightly in response, until lip 29 passes over the ring and is secured to an underside of the ring.

[0039] Particular dimensions of the elements illustrated in FIG. 4 may depend upon the particular container to which cap 20 is designed to be attached, as well as the system chosen to provide spill-proof capability to cap 20. Any currently- or hereafter-known system may be used to provide spill-proof capability to a cap according to some embodiments.

[0040]FIG. 5 shows cap 20 with seal 40 according to some embodiments. Seal 40 is disposed within exterior recess 25. Seal 40 may comprise a cork plug or another device to seal apertures 26 from ambient air. Seal 40 may be adhered to cap 20 using an adhesive, a heat seal, and/or by friction between seal 40 and the walls of suction portion 21 which define exterior recess 25.

[0041]FIG. 6 comprises a cross-sectional view of cap 20 that corresponds to the cross section illustrated in FIG. 5. Seal 40 is shown within exterior recess 25 as described above. Use of seal 40 may facilitate manufacturing of cap 20 and/or seal of apertures 26.

[0042] Cap 50 according to some embodiments is shown in a side elevational view in FIG. 7A and in a front elevational view in FIG. 7B. Cap 50 includes seal 22 and rim 27 as described above with respect to cap 20. Cap 50 is substantially spill-proof upon removal of seal 22.

[0043] Suction portion 51 of cap 50 differs in shape from suction portion 21 of cap 20. In particular, openings of dispensing apertures that are defined by suction portion 51 are flush with an upper surface of suction portion 51. FIGS. 8A and 8B are top plan views of cap 50 respectively showing suction portion 51 with and without seal 22. As shown, dispensing apertures 26 are defined by an uppermost surface of suction portion 51. Such a construction of portion 51 may facilitate placement of seal 22 thereon and/or the effectiveness of sealing apertures 26.

[0044] Beverage dispenser 60 is shown in perspective view in FIG. 9. Beverage dispenser 60 includes container 10 and cap 20 as described with respect to FIG. 1, but might not include seal 22 or coupling 30. Rather, beverage dispenser 60 includes overwrap 65 placed over cap 20 and container 10. Overwrap 65 may comprise a label identifying a product embodied by beverage dispenser 60.

[0045] Overwrap 65 may be removable and placed over cap 20 and container 10 using “shrink-wrap” or other suitable technology. Overwrap 65 may comprise any suitable material, including but not limited to plastic or plastic foam-based materials. Overwrap 65 may serve one or both purposes of sealing apertures 26 from ambient air and providing an indication of whether cap 20 has been uncoupled from container 10. In some embodiments, overwrap 65 may cover less of dispenser 60 than shown in FIG. 9, such as all of cap 20 and an upper portion of container 10. In a case that cap 20 is covered by an overcap as described above, overwrap 65 may also cover the overcap so as to indicate whether the overcap was removed from cap 20 after overwrap 65 was placed on the overcap.

[0046] The several embodiments described herein are solely for the purpose of illustration. Embodiments may include any currently or hereafter-known versions of the elements described herein. Combinations of any type of overwrap, seal, coupling, container, lips, rim, and substantially spill-proof cap may be used in conjunction with some embodiments. Moreover, dispensing apertures according to some embodiments may differ from those described herein, and some embodiments may include only one dispensing aperture. Therefore, persons skilled in the art will recognize from this description that other embodiments may be practiced with various modifications and alterations. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A beverage dispenser comprising: a container defining a container volume; and a substantially spill-proof cap coupled to the container so as to indicate if the cap has been uncoupled from the container, the cap defining at least one dispensing aperture in communication with the container volume and with ambient air.
 2. A beverage dispenser according to claim 1, the container containing a beverage in the container volume, and the beverage to substantially remain within the beverage dispenser in a case that the beverage flows against an opening of the at least one dispensing aperture and suction is not applied to the at least one dispensing aperture.
 3. A beverage dispenser according to claim 2, wherein the beverage comprises fruit-flavored water.
 4. A beverage dispenser according to claim 3, wherein the beverage is a single beverage serving.
 5. A beverage dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising: a coupling coupled to the cap and to the container.
 6. A beverage dispenser according to claim 5, the coupling to indicate if the cap has been uncoupled from the container.
 7. A beverage dispenser according to claim 6, the coupling to break if the cap is uncoupled from the container.
 8. A beverage dispenser according to claim 6, the coupling to break if the cap is turned through a particular arc relative to the container.
 9. A beverage dispenser according to claim 5, wherein the coupling comprises removable material covering a portion of the cap and a portion of the container.
 10. A beverage dispenser according to claim 1, the container adapted to substantially maintain its shape in response to inward pressure caused by a child's grip on the container.
 11. A beverage dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising: a seal to cover the least one dispensing aperture.
 12. A beverage dispenser according to claim 11, wherein the seal comprises a strip of foil.
 13. A beverage dispenser according to claim 11, wherein the cap further defines an exterior recess, wherein the at least one dispensing aperture is in communication with the exterior recess, and wherein the seal is disposed within the exterior recess.
 14. A beverage dispenser according to claim 11, wherein the seal comprises removable material shrink-wrapped over the at least one dispensing aperture.
 15. A beverage dispenser according to claim 14, wherein the removable material is coupled to the cap and to the container to indicate if the cap has been uncoupled from the container.
 16. A beverage dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the cap comprises a suction portion, wherein the suction portion defines the at least one dispensing aperture, and wherein a shape of the suction portion adapted to a child's mouth.
 17. A beverage dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the cap is a single, integrally-formed piece.
 18. A beverage dispenser according to claim 1, the container comprising a rim, and the cap comprising a lip, wherein the lip is secured to the underside of the rim.
 19. A beverage dispenser comprising: a cap defining at least one dispensing aperture; and a seal to seal the at least one dispensing aperture from ambient air, wherein the dispensing aperture is substantially spill-proof upon removal of the seal from the at least one dispensing aperture.
 20. A beverage dispenser according to claim 19, further comprising: a container defining a container volume and coupled to the cap, wherein the at least one dispensing aperture is in communication with the container volume.
 21. A beverage dispenser according to claim 20, the container containing a beverage in the container volume, the at least one dispensing aperture in communication with ambient air upon removal of the seal, and the beverage to substantially remain within the beverage dispenser in a case that the beverage flows against an opening of the at least one dispensing aperture and suction is not applied to the at least one dispensing aperture.
 22. A beverage dispenser according to claim 21, wherein the beverage comprises fruit-flavored water.
 23. A beverage dispenser according to claim 22, wherein the beverage is a single beverage serving.
 24. A beverage dispenser according to claim 20, the container comprising a rim and the cap comprising a lip, wherein the lip is secured to the underside of the rim.
 25. A beverage dispenser according to claim 19, wherein the seal comprises a strip of foil.
 26. A beverage dispenser according to claim 19, wherein the cap further defines an exterior recess, wherein the at least one dispensing aperture is in communication with the exterior recess, and wherein the seal is disposed within the exterior recess.
 27. A beverage dispenser according to claim 19, wherein the seal comprises removable material shrink-wrapped over the at least one dispensing aperture.
 28. A beverage dispenser according to claim 27, further comprising: a container coupled to the cap, wherein the removable material is coupled to the cap and to the container to indicate if the cap has been uncoupled from the container.
 29. A beverage dispenser according to claim 19, wherein the cap comprises a suction portion, wherein the suction portion defines the at least one dispensing aperture, and wherein a shape of the suction portion adapted to a child's mouth.
 30. A beverage dispenser according to claim 19, further comprising: a coupling coupled to the cap and to the container.
 31. A beverage dispenser according to claim 30, the coupling to indicate if the cap has been uncoupled from the container.
 32. A beverage dispenser according to claim 31, the coupling to break if the cap is uncoupled from the container.
 33. A beverage dispenser according to claim 31, the coupling to break if the cap is turned through a particular arc relative to the container.
 34. A beverage dispenser according to claim 30, wherein the coupling comprises removable material shrink-wrapped over a portion of the cap and a portion of the container.
 35. A beverage dispenser according to claim 19, wherein the cap is a single, integrally-formed piece.
 36. A beverage dispenser comprising: a cap defining at least one substantially spill-proof dispensing aperture, the cap being a single, integrally-formed piece; and a coupling coupled to the cap, the coupling comprising an interior surface having first threads disposed thereon, the first threads to interface with second threads disposed on an exterior of a container to seal the cap to the container.
 37. A beverage dispenser according to claim 36, further comprising: a seal to cover the least one dispensing aperture.
 38. A beverage dispenser according to claim 37, wherein the seal comprises a strip of foil.
 39. A beverage dispenser according to claim 37, wherein the cap further defines an exterior recess, wherein the at least one dispensing aperture is in communication with the exterior recess, and wherein the seal is disposed within the exterior recess.
 40. A beverage dispenser according to claim 37, wherein the seal comprises removable material shrink-wrapped over the at least one dispensing aperture.
 41. A beverage dispenser according to claim 36, wherein the cap comprises a suction portion, wherein the suction portion defines the at least one dispensing aperture, and wherein a shape of the suction portion is adapted to a child's mouth.
 42. A beverage dispenser according to claim 36, the container comprising a rim and the cap comprising a lip, wherein the lip is secured to the underside of the rim. 